Early College High Schools (ECHS) are innovative high schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and 60 college credit hours. Early College High Schools:

• provide dual credit at no cost to students
• offer rigorous instruction and accelerated courses
• provide academic and social support services to help students succeed
• increase college readiness, and
• reduce barriers to college access.

 

ECHS Designation

Under the authority of Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.908(b) and Texas Administrative Code(TAC) §102.1091, the TEA developed a designation process for Early College High Schools. The designation process ensures that districts and colleges operating ECHS campuses maintain the integrity of the model, which was researched and designed to target and serve students who might not otherwise attend college.

The following links are designated ECHS campuses:

Laws and Rules

The following links are about the laws and rules for early college programs:

•  General Appropriations Act, Article III, Rider 57, 2013
• Texas Education Code §29.908
• Texas Administrative Code §4.161  
• 19 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 102 Educational Programs Subchapter GG:Commissioner's Rules Concerning Early College Education Program

Resources

The following links are resources about early college programs:

• The Early College High School Blueprint (outside source) 
• Dual Credit DCCCD Resources (outside source)
• Texas Early College High School (outside source) 
• The Early College High School Initiative (outside source)